At some level, this story of passing a controversial and imperfect new social program that ultimately takes root, proves impossible to roll back, and gets made more generous over time - that's the story of EVERY social program in America. That very much includes Social Security, which was not only far less generous in its original incarnation, but specifically excluded domestic workers to appease segregationists in the Senate (a compromise more morally repugnant than anything it took to pass the ACA). Even if they are imperfect at the start, laying the foundation of new social programs is good and consequential and clearly worth doing.
I got involved in Obamacare enrollment outreach back in 2014 because it was clear to me even then that the ACA succeeding would be a gigantic step forward for our social insurance system. It frustrates me when some people hand-wave this away because it isn't their idea of perfect. And by the way - early last year the number of people covered by the ACA in some form (counting Medicaid expansion and Exchange enrollees) was already >35 million and is likely higher after this year's Open Enrollment.
Great post here and good points about the ACA!
At some level, this story of passing a controversial and imperfect new social program that ultimately takes root, proves impossible to roll back, and gets made more generous over time - that's the story of EVERY social program in America. That very much includes Social Security, which was not only far less generous in its original incarnation, but specifically excluded domestic workers to appease segregationists in the Senate (a compromise more morally repugnant than anything it took to pass the ACA). Even if they are imperfect at the start, laying the foundation of new social programs is good and consequential and clearly worth doing.
I got involved in Obamacare enrollment outreach back in 2014 because it was clear to me even then that the ACA succeeding would be a gigantic step forward for our social insurance system. It frustrates me when some people hand-wave this away because it isn't their idea of perfect. And by the way - early last year the number of people covered by the ACA in some form (counting Medicaid expansion and Exchange enrollees) was already >35 million and is likely higher after this year's Open Enrollment.